Ask CDC - Travelers' Health

I want to bring my dog into the United States. What documents do I need?

CDC requires all dogs coming into the U.S. to be healthy.

If your dog is coming from a rabies-free country, rabies vaccination is not required.

If coming from a country with rabies, your dog must be fully immunized against rabies and have a valid vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian.

The rabies vaccination certificate must include:

Name and address of owner

Description of your dog, including breed, sex, date of birth (or approximate age if unknown), color, markings, and other identifying information

Date of rabies vaccination and vaccine product information

Date the immunization expires, and

Name, license number, address, and signature of veterinarian who administered the vaccination.

Puppies must be at least 3 months old to be vaccinated for rabies and must wait 30 days after vaccination before entering the U.S.

Adult dogs (15 months or older) rabies vaccination must be current. If it has expired, your dog will need to get a booster vaccination—but it can still travel immediately. Bring your dog’s records of previous and booster rabies vaccinations to enter the U.S.

CDC does not accept the following as proof of immunity to rabies:

Rabies titers or serology,

Veterinarian exemption letters, or

Health certificates, or pet passports with no proof of rabies vaccination.

If you do not provide a valid rabies vaccination certificate, your dog may be denied entry.

Under For Travelers, use the drop-down menu to select your destination.

Read the Vaccines and Medicines chart.

Not all the vaccines and medicines in this chart are appropriate for everyone. You should talk to a doctor (ideally, at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip) to find out which vaccines and medicines are right for you.

Remember that not all illnesses can be prevented by a vaccine, so review the Stay Healthy and Safe section on the destination page and read Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel for information on other steps you can take to protect your health.